Health officials concerned over possible HIV epidemic in southern Ohio

A new report indicates that state and federal health officials have concerns over a potential HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) epidemic in southern Ohio.

According to a report this week by Alan Johnson in The Columbus Dispatch (http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/11/08/is-hiv-southern-ohios-next-woe.html), "Scioto County’s hepatitis C infection rate – 556.6 per 100,000 people – is four times the state average and five times Franklin County’s rate. Scioto’s surrounding counties — Jackson, Vinton, Pike, Adams, Gallia and Lawrence — are also in the 'red zone,' an Ohio Department of Health map shows."

“We are pretty much in a great big world of hurt,” Lisa Roberts, a public-health nurse at the Portsmouth Health Department, told The Dispatch. “It’s not a question of ‘if’ Ohio will see increases and outbreaks of HIV related to increased IV drug use. It’s merely a question of when,” Roberts said.

Last month, the Ohio Department of Health announced it is investigating HIV and viral hepatitis infections among injection drug users in Shelby County in west-central Ohio.

Three people who reported sharing needles with others during injection drug use recently tested positive for HIV, and two of the three also tested positive for viral hepatitis, the department said.

Both types of infection may be spread through the high-risk practice of sharing needles and other injection equipment such as cookers, syringes, rinse water and cotton balls, during drug use. Such infections also can be spread through unsafe sex practices.

To help reduce risk of HIV and viral hepatitis infection, avoid:

• Injection drug use;

• Sharing or re-using needles and other drug injection equipment;

• Engaging in unprotected sex; and,

• Engaging in sex with commercial sex workers.

In a process called “contact tracing,” state public health staff are following up with exposed individuals to offer free testing for HIV and viral hepatitis as well as for syphilis which also may be spread by sharing needles. Individuals who test positive will be given medical treatment options, and drug users will be given substance abuse counseling options.

“Injection drug users should never share needles because of the risk of contracting and spreading infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis,” said ODH Medical Director Dr. Mary DiOrio.

“If you’ve shared a needle or other drug injection equipment with someone, you should get tested for HIV and hepatitis, as should your sexual partners.”

At-risk individuals can arrange for free local HIV, viral hepatitis and syphilis testing by calling the Ohio HIV/STD Hotline at (800) 332-2437 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Any individuals with questions about this issue also can call the hotline, which is funded by ODH. More information about HIV, hepatitis and sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis is available on ODH’s website at odh.ohio.gov.

For more information, go to https://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhprograms/hastpac/hivcare/Data%20Fiscal%20Program.aspx.